Massage & Bodywork

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2018

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THE DIAPHRAGM ▲ Curl your hand. Notice how the hand is directed all toward one point. Now do this with your feet. This point, located below the third toe, is the main point of the diaphragm reflex (Image 1A). The diaphragm is the major breathing muscle. Just as the diaphragm stretches across the torso, the diaphragm reflex stretches across the foot. Massage the diaphragm reflex with the thumbs using effleurage motions. As the client inhales, move the thumbs from the center point out to mimic the flattening motion of the diaphragm (Image 1B). As the client exhales, move thumbs to meet at the center point of the diaphragm reflex. Repeat three times. The points of the feet are located similar to the way the organs and glands are located in the body. The diaphragm reflex separates the foot into two parts: superior and inferior to the diaphragm reflex. Even though it is not technically accurate, you could look at anatomical positions reflexively. In other words, distal reflexively would be superior and proximal would be inferior. Every organ in the body that is superior to the diaphragm is located distal or "superior" to the diaphragm reflex, and every organ in the body that is inferior to the diaphragm is located proximal or "inferior" to the diaphragm reflex. In addition, you can think of each toe as a zone that extends across the foot. Zone 1 is the big toe down to the heel, zone 2 is the second toe to the heel, and so on until the fifth zone, which is from the fifth toe to the heel. SPINE ▲ The spinal reflexes are located along the inside arch of the foot. If you feel along the back of your neck and upper shoulders, the most noticeable bony protrusion is the spinous process of cervical vertebra 7 (C7). The area that protrudes the most on the foot is the head of the first metatarsal. This is the reflex for C7. The spine has four natural curves: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The inside arch of the foot has four curves that relate reflexively to the spinal curves. The sacral curve is located along the medial aspect of the calcaneus (Image 2A). The lumbar curve is located along the medial aspect of the first cuneiform to the navicular bone. The thoracic curve is located along the medial aspect of the first metatarsal to the first cuneiform. The cervical curve is located along the medial aspect of the proximal phalange of the big toe (Image 2B). Massage the spinal reflexes with the thumbs, fingers, or knuckles using effleurage motions, moving from the heel toward the big toe in a continuous motion. You may also use press- and-release motions. Use circular friction motions on any tense areas. When massaging tense areas, pinpoint the curve of the spine (and even the vertebra) you are working on. 60 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k n o v e m b e r / d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 1A 2A 1B 2B

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